Howard Culver (June 4, 1918 – August 4, 1984) was an American radio and television actor, best known as hotel clerk Howie Uzzell during the entire run of TV’s Gunsmoke. On radio he starred in the title role of the Western adventure series Straight Arrow, which aired on Mutual from May 6, 1948 to June 21, 1951.[better source needed]
Biography
Culver grew up in Los Angeles, and he was first heard as an actor on CBS while he was a teenager. He served in the Navy for three years during World War II, returning to continue on many San Francisco and Hollywood-based radio shows. In 1948, he was the last actor to portray Ellery Queen on radio’s The Adventures of Ellery Queen. After Straight Arrow, he co-starred with Mercedes McCambridge as reporter Jud Barnes on ABC’s Defense Attorney (1951–52).
Straight Arrow opened with an introduction by announcer Frank Bingman, who remained close friends with Culver for years:
Jack French recalled Culver in his 1996 essay on Straight Arrow:
Much information about Culver and Straight Arrow was published in the newsletter, Pow Wow, edited by William and Teresa Harper of North Augusta, South Carolina.
Films and television
In addition to his regular role on Gunsmoke, he made numerous TV guest appearances on such shows as Dragnet, Adam-12, and CHiPs. His film roles included a newscaster in Hal Ashby’s Shampoo (1975).
Death
On August 5, 1984, Culver died at age 66 during a vacation in Hong Kong.
